Monday is our Memorial Day. We wish everyone a safe Memorial Day weekend as we honor all the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

We thank them for their service and sacrifice.

Dear friends:

I apologize for the worry that was caused by my sudden surgery and time in the hospital.

For the past 10 years, in addition to the frequent comings and goings between Japan and the United States, I was only sleeping 3-4 hours every night and following a long daily self-training schedule, unknowingly causing a lot of stress to my body. In February, while staying in Japan, I developed a serious, life threatening illness.

I had to go through a major emergency surgery that lasted 10 hours. Luckily, I survived.

Since then, I have received warm, loving support from so many of you in the United States and Japan, and many other countries. I derived a lot of strength from it, and it comforted me and enhanced my spirits.

I have been working hard on my rehabilitation, by following a restricted diet and a strict schedule. Your support has carried me through all this and helped me to improve my condition.

Currently, I am allowed to teach two hours of private lessons several times a week, which has also been helping my rehabilitation, and is done under the doctor’s guidance. I am working with private students right now, but aim to fully return to teaching as before.

I am grateful to my teachers, Sifu Dan Inosanto and Simo Paula, and to my senior students who have been covering my classes in my absence. I also want to say thank you to all my students who are continuing to train hard.

I want to thank all of you for all your love and support. Thank you so much. I am a very lucky person to have people like you who care about me. I will honor your kindness by continuing to work hard on my rehabilitation, and on becoming healthier.

I am looking forward to the day when I’ll be back to the way I used to be, and to seeing all of you again.

Peace & Love,
Yorinaga Nakamura